St Malo Combine Winner Announced

Robert McDowell wins the PigeonLink.com sponsored trophy.

One of the most coveted trophies in the racing sport in Ireland was won by this year’s winner of the Millar Gold Cup, Robert McDowell, pictured below on the right. It was agreed that the combine pigeon racing was to be competed for each year from the longest Old Bird race to Ireland. The Premier Old Bird from St Malo in France followed the trend of the earlier races of the cross channel season, very hard race. 1208 fanciers sent 3079 birds and were liberated at 7.30am on Sunday 29th June in a Light West, NW wind having been held over the previous day due to poor conditions over and on the route home to Ireland.

Robert McDowell, right, winner of the combine race from St Malo 2014 and James Cleland.

The winner was timed at 9.25 pm on the day of the race, beating all racing organisations in Ireland with a velocity of 902.14 y/min, flying from St Malo was the partnership of R McDowell & Son of Annsborough. Their latest top performer is a yearling blue cock sent to St Malo feeding youngsters 2/3 days old. His preparation prior to St Malo was the two Talbennys flying with the EDC then rested prior to St Malo . The McDowell partnership were previous winners of the EDC O/B Derby from Lamballe and this hen also was 2nd & 34th Open Lamballe. The Sire of the Millar Gold Cup Winner is a direct son of the Lamballe O/B Derby winner Dam of the Millar Gold Cup Winner was a gift bird from Lecky Bros & Davies , famous for racing ” Champion Longstone Lass ”. I am sure that Robert is over the moon with the performances of his blue cock winning the combine from France. Congratulations Robert on your recent top success from Pigeonlink.com. The trophy will be presented at the end of the season. A great result in one of the hardest races in recent years. 

H. Cordner of Annaghmore was second at the St Malo race clocking at 23.08 with a velocity of 855.6 y/min and winning 1st Open NIPA. This yearling Red hen was Hector’s 6th bird home in the INFC Yearling National and was sent to St Malo sitting on overdue eggs. The breeding Sire is mainly Busschaert, and the Dam is Jan Theelan, purchased from Ian Axe. Hector now adds an Old Bird National victory NIPA to his CV having topped the INFC Y/B National from Penzance only last season. Congratulations Hector on your recent top result.